Jazz Pianist Chestnut To Perform

November 19, 1999|By SAM MCDONALD Daily Press

Baltimore's Cyrus Chestnut might be the hottest young jazz cat to regularly prowl through Hampton Roads.

Thanks in part to his friendship with drummer and local radio personality Jae Sinnett, the piano standout slinks through our area at least once a year - often stopping at the Williamsburg Regional Library's theater.

And that's where he's set to perform tonight and Saturday, backed by Sinnett and bassist Terry Burrell.

Sinnett, who has been performing with Chestnut for a decade, says the pianist never fails to connect with listeners. "It's the emotional impact. It goes way beyond technique," Sinnett said. "I've never seen a musician who affects the audience the way that Cyrus does, from an emotional standpoint. It's a moving experience to listen to him play, even more so to work with him."

This time around, Chestnut isn't plugging a new record. His most recent release is the self-titled 1998 disc on Atlantic that featured singer Anita Baker along with top-notch jazzmen James Carter, Ron Carter and Joe Lovano.

As if that wasn't enough, the disc was co- produced by the legendary Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records.

"To be honest with you, it was somewhat intimidating to be in the studio with such an upper- echelon of people," Chestnut said last year. "But it was Ahmet that put me right at ease. He kept saying, `Man, this is your record. We're here for you. Do your thing!' "

Which is exactly what he did.

"Cyrus Chestnut" includes nine tunes penned by the stout pianist - many of them elegant and refined examples of modern straight-ahead jazz. There are also Chestnut interpretations of standards "Summertime" and "My Favorite Things" - both featuring Baker on vocals.

And there are nuggets such as the lovely solo piano "Nutman's Invention #2," which shows his skill in playing the 1920s stride piano style perfected by James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. "Strolling in Central Park" is as relaxed and lyrical as its title suggests. And the last cut, "Sharp," features a scorching sax duel between Carter and Lovano.

Chestnut played on three of Sinnett's own albums. And it's possible that the trio will play some cuts from those discs.

"And we'll do the greatest hits. We'll work out the new things," Sinnett said. "You'll get to hear some of his material, a lot of standards. We might even throw some hymns, blues and whatever else we can come up with."

"But it will definitely be swinging."

Sam McDonald may be reached at 247-4732 or by e-mail at smcdonald@dailypress.com